Influence of Fertility Levels, Biofertilizers and Stress Extenuating Chemicals on Growth and Yield of Mungbean (Vigna Radiata L.)

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024 at Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management and stress-mitigating treatments on mungbean (Vigna radiata L.). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications, comprising 36 treatment combinations. Main plots consisted of four fertility levels: control, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF). Sub-plots included nine treatments involving Rhizobium, Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB), thiourea (500 ppm), and salicylic acid (200 ppm), applied individually and in combination. The results indicated that the application of 100% RDF recorded significantly superior growth, physiological parameters, and yield attributes, resulting in the highest seed yield (895 kg ha⁻¹), straw yield (2104 kg ha⁻¹), biological yield (2997 kg ha⁻¹), and harvest index (29.74%). Its performance was statistically at par with 75% RDF. Among the biofertilizer and chemical treatments, the combination of Rhizobium + PSB + salicylic acid (200 ppm) proved most effective, producing the highest seed yield (880 kg ha⁻¹) and harvest index (29.71%), though it was statistically comparable to Rhizobium + PSB + thiourea (500 ppm). The study concludes that 75–100% RDF, integrated with dual inoculation of Rhizobium and PSB along with foliar application of either salicylic acid or thiourea, can significantly enhance mungbean productivity by improving growth, physiological efficiency, and yield components under semi-arid conditions.